Thursday, April 25, 2013

JOIN US AT THE 2013 UF-IFAS SFRC / FL SAF SPRING SYMPOSIUM
May 21-23, 2013; Gainesville, FL. This is a two day symposium to present an array of practical applications regarding the use of GPS, satellite imagery, high resolution aerial stereo imagery, LiDAR, radar, and sonar technologies in natural resource management. Sessions will develop practical applications of these tools for terrestrial and aquatic systems management; including uses for forest inventory, fire and fuels management, invasive species management, aquatic habitat assessment, and land use analysis and planning tools such as GIS. Given the broad subject matter, we expect a large turnout. Registration will be limited to 200 attendees. Advanced registration is $175 and is available on Eventbrite: http://springsymposiumgeomatics.eventbrite.com/

SPOTLIGHT ON LAUREL WILT DISEASE
This week Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam spotlights laurel wilt disease, which affects trees such as redbay, avocado, sassafras and other related members of the laurel family. The spread of this disease could be devastating to Florida’s avocado industry. More information about laurel wilt and some potential strategies to reduce impacts is online at: http://www.freshfromflorida.com/pi/enpp/pathology/laurel_wilt_disease.html.

COYOTES VS BOBCATS: WHAT ARE THEY EATING?
Over the next 3 years (2012-2014), the University of Florida will be conducting a study of coyote and bobcat diets in Florida. Of particular interest is the importance of popular wildlife species, including white-tailed deer, turkeys, and bobwhite quail, livestock, and pets in the diet of these predators. Diets will be determined by examining the stomach contents of coyotes and bobcats legally harvested or obtained in Florida. We are asking for your help in obtaining legally acquired coyote and bobcat carcasses, with or without pelts. We will also accept coyote and bobcat stomachs and intestines if you cannot store the whole carcass. If you have at least 5 animals that you would like to provide us, you can contact Lauren Watine (352-846-0558; lnwatine@ufl.edu) or Bill Giuliano (352-846-0575; docg@ufl.edu) at the University of Florida to arrange for pickup. If you have fewer than 5 animals or are going to be coming through Gainesville, arrangements can be made to get carcasses from you at the University or combine your animals with others in your area for a pickup. Carcasses or stomachs and intestines should be frozen in a suitable bag or container, and include the name of contributor, animal sex, date harvested/obtained, and location harvested/obtained. We have obtained a permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for this project, and will keep information provided by you for this project anonymous to the extent possible by law. We greatly appreciate your help with this valuable study!

Thursday, April 11, 2013

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON NEW AUSTIN CARY FOREST LEARNING CENTER Two years ago, the University of Florida School of Forest Resources and Conservation (SFRC) was devastated when the Austin Cary Forest Conference Center was destroyed by fire. Thanks to the hard work and support of leaders in SFRC and the forestry and natural resources community, constructon is beginning on a new building, to be called Austin Cary Forest Learning Center.
About 400 people gathered Saturday for a Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Learning Center at Austin Cary Forest. Support is still needed for the project. For information about the new Learning Center and how you can support it, see http://sfrc.ifas.ufl.edu/Learning_Center/

HOUSE BILL TO DIRECT DOACS AND FWC TO DEVELOP VOLUNTARY BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR WILDLIFE A Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services bill, HB 7087, directs the Agriculture Department and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to develop voluntary Best Management Practices (BMPs) that benefit wildlife on agricultural lands. Voluntary BMPs would help ensure that landowners are not in violation of wildlife protection laws for agricultural practices that could harm wildlife or their habitat. The law would only apply to state protected threatened species, not those listed for protection under the federal Endangered Species Act. A Senate companion bill, SB 1628, goes before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government. Source: http://www.thefloridacurrent.com/article.cfm?id=32271634

COYOTES VS BOBCATS: WHAT ARE THEY EATING?
Over the next 3 years (2012-2014), the University of Florida will be conducting a study of coyote and bobcat diets in Florida. Of particular interest is the importance of popular wildlife species, including white-tailed deer, turkeys, and bobwhite quail, livestock, and pets in the diet of these predators. Diets will be determined by examining the stomach contents of coyotes and bobcats legally harvested or obtained in Florida. We are asking for your help in obtaining legally acquired coyote and bobcat carcasses, with or without pelts. We will also accept coyote and bobcat stomachs and intestines if you cannot store the whole carcass. If you have at least 5 animals that you would like to provide us, you can contact Lauren Watine (352-846-0558; lnwatine@ufl.edu) or Bill Giuliano (352-846-0575; docg@ufl.edu) at the University of Florida to arrange for pickup. If you have fewer than 5 animals or are going to be coming through Gainesville, arrangements can be made to get carcasses from you at the University or combine your animals with others in your area for a pickup. Carcasses or stomachs and intestines should be frozen in a suitable bag or container, and include the name of contributor, animal sex, date harvested/obtained, and location harvested/obtained. We have obtained a permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for this project, and will keep information provided by you for this project anonymous to the extent possible by law. We greatly appreciate your help with this valuable study!